A delicious lunchbox treat or an afternoon tea showstopper

August only means one thing in my household and thats plums. We have our beautiful plum tree in the back yard that year after year provides the most beautiful fruit. Much like our raspberries after we’ve been eating plums for weeks, have enough jam to last the year and incorporated them into every dish we can think of I have to start to get creative.

These bars have a beautiful shortbread base topped with a delicious crumble and sandwiched between is a gloriously sticky plum jam. Absolutely perfect for a cheeky lunchbox treat or let them take pride of place at your next afternoon tea.

Super simple to make this three step process is simple enough for even the novice baker.

Ingredients – for the crumble

100g demerara sugar

100g plain flour

50g ground almonds

60g butter – cold

pinch of salt

Ingredients – for the base

420g plain flour

180g butter

100g sugar

100g icing sugar

1tsp vanilla essence

pinch of salt

Ingredients – for the filling

1kg pitted plums, sliced

470g sugar

250ml water

1tsp vanilla essence

Method – for the filling

Preheat your oven to 190C/375F

Line and grease an 8×8 baking tin

Add plums, water, sugar and vanilla to a large pan, cook over a medium heat until the plums start to break down. Once the plums are soft take the pan from the heat and leave to cool. (feel free to start on the base and crumble mix whilst the filling is cooking/cooling)

Once cool transfer to a blender and blend until smooth

Pop the mixture back in the pan and cook again over a medium heat for around 15-20 minutes stirring occasionally so that nothing sticks. Once you can scrape your spoon through the mixture and see a trail you are there. Leave to one side off the heat whilst you finish the base and crumble.

Method – for the base

Using a stand alone or electric mixer, cream together your butter, vanilla, sugar and icing sugar.

Slowly add in the flour and salt until combined

Press the mixture into the baking tin until it is flat and even

Bake for 15 min

Method – for the crumble

Mix all of the dry ingredients in a bowl

Cut the butter into cubes then add this to the dry ingredients

To make the crumble rub the butter and flour mixture between your fingers. Keep going until you have a crumbly texture.

To assemble the bars take the base in the tin, cover with a layer of the filling, and top with another layer of the crumble.

Pop the bars into the oven for 20-30 minutes until everything is beautifully golden brown.

When baked leave in the tray and pop in the fridge to cool. It will be much easier to slice when chilled.

And there you have it. Gorgeous plum crumble bars, perfect for any occasion.

If you make your own let me know how they go by tagging @whatseatingmanchester in your social media post.

Welcome

Morning Campers!
Lovely to have you here. I'm Sarah and I'm the brains behind WhatsEatingManchester. I am a full time photographer and part time food fanatic. I have held every job in the restaurant business and food is what I do. I created WhatsEatingManchester as a place to bring together and share all my favourite recipes and images.